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Following a successful rebound during the football season, the Wallace Wildcat boys basketball team is looking to improve on last season’s 4-16 record.

Returning after a one year absence to lead the Wildcats will be head coach Terry Fowler. This season he will be assisted by Ralph Swedberg.

“Our hope is to be greatly improved this year and competitive in all our games,” said Coach Fowler, when asked about the upcoming season.

Fowler has reason to be optimistic this year with the return of all five starters and two other letter winners from last year. Those players include posts Shawn Christensen, Ryan Sowle and Jordan Christner, and guards Lane Swedberg and Sean May.

Junior Ethan Scott and sophomore Taylor Doell also saw significant playing time last year and will add depth.

Other players who will help add depth include sophomore Josh Grauerholz and freshman Landon Swedberg.

“Our strength is definitely our experience,” said Fowler, “with everyone returning, these boys have played a lot of minutes.”

Because of the depth and experience, some players are being asked to play positions different from last year and just because a player started last year doesn’t guarantee a starting spot this year.

The Wildcats have spent a lot of time this preseason on fundamental skills, which Fowler sees as a weakness.

“We need to take better care of the ball this year. We have to make sure we get a quality shot every time if we are going to improve. And when we get those shots we need to make them.”

Improved defensive pressure will also be a focus this season.

“We have to play better defensively, which will hopefully lead to easier baskets at the offensive end,” said Fowler.

Once again the Wildcats will compete in the GPAC division of the Republican Plains Conference. Other teams in the GPAC include Paxton, Maywood, Dundy County, Wauneta-Palisade, Hitchcock County and Hayes Center.

The top teams in the conference look to be Wauneta-Palisade, Hayes Center and Paxton, but the Wildcats look like they can be competitive with all these teams.

The Wildcats tip off their season on Friday night at Maywood before hosting the Wauneta-Palisade Broncos on Saturday.